The phrase 'Debatable Lands' has been used in reference to disputed parts of the Anglo-Scottish Border since at least the sixteenth century. Popularised by Walter Scott, the term was extended to other geographical areas and into metaphorical use in the nineteenth century. Macaulay in 1828 described history as the "debatable land" between Reason and Imagination. The BARS conference of 2005 invites an assessment of Romanticism's Debatable Lands in the fullest and broadest senses of the phrase.

Proposals for 20-minute papers are warmly invited on any aspect of the conference theme. Proposals should be not more than 300 words and submitted by 15 October, 2004. We are also interested in proposals for Special Sessions. Convenors of Special Sessions are asked to submit a title and details of the three 20-minute papers proposed for the Session by the deadline.

The conference organisers are Professor Claire Lamont and Dr Michael Rossington of the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics at the University of Newcastle.

Online submission forms for proposals are available on the conference website. Alternatively you are welcome to submit a proposal by e-mail (BARS2005@newcastle.ac.uk) or by post to: